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Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,413
The university should provide many aspect of travel insurance. However, I would be very surprised if the university--or whatever entity is reimbursing the travel--were to pay ticket booking fees to a third party individual who isn't an official travel agent. It can be difficult to justify why an official travel agent was used if there's an additional fee for ticketing.
If you book tickets through an OLTA, what happens if changes are needed? Will you and can you help the guy in IROPs?
You might want to look at services like the cranky concierge. Also, award booking services are generally not travel agents and have very clear disclaimers to that effect.